Chapter 13 - The Corporate Takeover"Mr. Whitmore, I wouldn't do that if I were you."
The cold voice echoed from the doorway. Adrian turned his head slightly to see two armed men in tactical gear standing behind Julian, their assault rifles raised and pointed straight at his chest.
Reluctantly, Adrian released Julian’s lapels and took a step back, his jaw clenched so tightly a muscle twitched violently in his cheek.
Julian straightened his jacket, brushing off an imaginary speck of dust. "Violence is so unbecoming of a billionaire CEO, Adrian. Let’s talk business instead. As of 9:00 AM this morning, your board of directors has called an emergency vote. Due to your 'unstable mental state' following your domestic crisis, you have been stripped of your executive powers."
Adrian stared at him, cold calculation cutting through his rage. "The board doesn't have the votes. Clara owns thirty-five percent. Together with my shares, we hold the controlling majority."
Julian’s smile widened into a full, triumphant grin. "Ah, yes. Clara’s shares. Have you checked your encrypted email in the last hour, Adrian?"
Adrian’s heart skipped a beat. He grabbed his tablet from the desk.
An email from a Zurich legal firm sat at the top of his inbox. The subject line: Transfer of Voting Rights.
With shaking fingers, Adrian opened the attachment. It was a legal document signed by Clara Whitmore forty-eight hours ago, irrevocably transferring her entire thirty-five percent voting block in Whitmore Enterprises... to Meridian Global.
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"No..." Adrian whispered, the tablet slipping from his fingers and shattering on the marble floor. "That's impossible. Clara would never hand the company to you."
"She didn't hand it to me," Julian corrected smoothly, turning toward the door. "She sold it. For a price so high it would make your head spin. Welcome to your retirement, Adrian."
